Scrap collector for cigar machines



May 16, 1939. H. H. WHEELER l SCRAP COLLECTOR FOR CIGAR MACHINES Fileduawh 27, 195e 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR N. Nw mK S ATroRNEY v May 15,1939 H. H. WHEELER SCRAP COLLECTOR FOR CIGR MACHINES Filed March 27.1936 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTQR lmilk/67; l

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ATTORNEY Patented May '11s, 1939 UNITED STATES vPATENT oFFi-.CE

Internacional' auf Company, a.

corporationA of New Jersey. e Applicants una. s1, im, sum No. um

.8 Chinn. 'I'his invention relates to cigar machines. more particularlyto a scrap collector for cigar machines wherein means are provided forautomatically collecting the tobacco scrap produced'by l the differentcomponent units in the operation of the machine. y

In a cigar machine, tobacco scrap and dust are present in the iillerfeed by which the filler tobacco, placed thereon by the operator isadvanced into the machine, at the feed cutter by which the fillertobacco is cut into cigar lengths.

in the charge-measuring unit in which the cigarlength cuts of fillertobacco are forwarded crosswise by feeding devices against a row ofmeasuring members, at the charge cutter by which the crosswise movingtobacco layer is cut intobunch charges, at the delivery end of therolling table on which the bunch charge is rolled'into a binder, at thebunch shaper or crimper in which g() the bunch is pressed into cigarshape, at the cigar trimmer by which the finished cigar is trimmed tosize after a wrapper has been applied to the shaped bunch, and at thebinder and wrapper dies on which the binders and wrappers are cut 5 fromleaves placed thereon by operators. rHeretofore, in the operation ofthese machines little has been done to provide for removal of tobaccodust and scrap. It has been customary to allow these materials to fallon the floor or collect on 31) the machine from-which they would bebrushed upon the floor. At some later period these materials would beswept up and disposed of as sweepings Therefore, to prevent scrap fromall these 3,-, sources from accumulating onthe machine and the oors andpossibly interfering with the proper operation of 4the machine, asuction pipe system is arranged in the sub-base of the machine withsuction heads at the various scrap-producing n units. This pipe systemis connectedthrough a separator toa central suction source which mayinclude a fan preferably located below the floor of the operating room,the separator delivering all scrap into a receptaclev provided for thepurpose. While each machine might be provided with a collectingreceptacle, it is proposed to'use a single receptacle and conductallscrap and dust material from one or several machines thereto. Bymeans of this arrangement the necessity of "u making'collections fromseveral points is eliminated. Furthermore, the products gathered fromthe receptaclewill be relatively pure, inasmuch as Vno opportunity .isgiven for mixing with dirt or 55 other extraneous matter, such as isalways pres- (cL' isi-ss) ent when scrap and dust are swept up andcollected' from the factory floor. Y

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for automaticallycollecting tobacco scrap and dust produced by the tobacco handling units5 of a cigar machine in its operation.

It is a further object to provide a cigar machine with a series ofsuction conduits which collect and convey to a receiving receptacle thescrap and dust tobacco produced therein. 10

It is an additional object to provide ascrap and. dust removing systemfor cigar machines in which a central source of suction is utilized forconducting these products from one or more machines to a single disposalreceptacle. 15

It is a further object to furnish a scrap and dust removal system forcigar. machines which discharges into a central disposal receptacle inwhich suction used in the operation of certain units of the cigarmachines, such as the binder and wrapper cutting tables and associatedtransfer means, is diverted when a minimum of suction is needed at thoseunits by means of a valve orl other suitable'device into the scrap anddust removal conduits for removal of these materials.

It is a further object to provide a tobacco scrap and dust removingsystem for cigar machines adapted to be used in conjunction with thesingle central suction source of a vgroup oi' machines, and dischargeall scrap and dust from the group into a single receptacle, or toprovide each machine with an individual suction device and scrapreceptacle for receiving these materials from each machine. Y It is anadditional object to provide a cleaning device for a' cigar machinewhich will positively collect and remove tobacco scrap and dust producedby the ltobacco handling elements thereof and prevent these materialsfrom falling on moving parts of the machine where they may do damu age,and from accumulating and giving the machine an untidy appearance. Withthis and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the

A.invention consists in certain constructions and combinations whichwill be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth inthe claims hereunto appended. f

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 isaplanviewofacigarmakingmachine embodying the improved scrapcollecting system; and y Fig. 2 is an elevationshowingthe'scrapecollecting pipe system.

Referring to Fig. 1. the tobacco is introduced intothecigarmachinebyafeed of thecrossi'eed5 type, such as that shown in Patent 1,740,571issued December 24, v1929, to W. B. Bronander, although any othersatisfactory feed could be used, including a feed table 5 on which theller tobacco T is propelled by an endless bottom belt 6 and verticalside belts 1 onto a swinging platform 8 on which it is cut into cigarlengths by a corrugated feed cutter 9 while being held by a downwardlypressing arm IU. 'I'he ller feed which transfers the so-formed zigzagended sections T' may be of the type shown by the patent to Hanson1,791,558, issued February 10, 1931.' These are then. swept by a pushbar II into the charge measuring chamber on an endless belt I2 whichcarries them under one or more rows of star wheels I3 which feed them ona measuring table 14 past a knife I5 against a row of yieldingly mountedfingers protruding through slots in the measuring table. These fingers,when they have permitted the proper quantity of tobacco to pass knifei5, recede andthe knife I5 severs the bunch charge T" so formed. ReapersI6, attached to a bar I1 sliding on horizontal supports I8 and movingbetween guides I9, load the charge T" into a charge transfer whichdeposits the same onto the bunch rolling apron 2| on which the rollingpin 22 moving in guides 23 and 24 rolls Vit into a binder cut on Adie 25and 'deposited on the rolling apron by a suitable transfer.

The bunch B thus formed is transferred to a rolling device 26 into whichit is inserted by a pair oi locators 21 and by which it is evened up andsoftened. A transfer arm then takes the bunch to a crimper 28 which maybe of the type shown in the patent to4 Wahlstrom, 1,442,200, issuedJanuary 16, 1923, in which its ends are pressed into the desired shapeand trimmed, and from which it is in tum transferred to a wrappingdevice 26 in which a wrapper cut on a die 38 is applied to it, therebyforming it into a cigar C which receives its finishing touches in are-roller 3i from which it is discharged after a knurler 32 has smoothedits head and a pair of knives 33, upon axially moving into position, hastrimmed its tuck end. The knurler and trimming means are of`conventional design and are not shown in detail.

The rolling table 2l and the remaining bunchmanipulating units aremounted on the base plate 36 of the machine which is supported by theframe 35..

Near the @charge end of feed table 5, the main portion of which forms along rectangular box closed by the vertical feed belts 1 are formedopenings 36, Figs, l and 2, which are connected to a main suction pipe31 by branch pipes 38 and 39, thereby withdrawing dust and scrapsadhering to the belts 1 and on the table. Below`the ller cutter 9, anopening 40 in table I4 is pro'- A641i rvided into which scrap and dusttobacco formed during theroperation of cutter 9 may fall into a pipe 4Iconnected to suctionv pipe 31. A suction head 42 located below chargecutter I5 is 'connected to the suction system by a pipe 43 forcollecting dust and scrap tobacco in a similar manner, thus carrying oall cutting dust and scrap. Openings 44 near tlrreV delivery end. ofmeasuring chamber I4 communicate with .the

suction pipe 31 by pipes 45, disposing of scrap from the ends of chargeT". Suction heads 46 and 41 located below'the delivery end of rollingtable 2| remove scrap spilled from the ends of bunch B through pipes 48and 49, while scrap bon 56h-at binder die`25 is connectedto the suc-'tion' systn by a pipe 5I. To carry oil any scrap adhering to the jawsof crimper 28, pipes 52 and 53 leading from main pipe 31 are mounted onthe crimper frame so as to terminate near the bunch ends in theirdelivery position. The scrap from the axially moving cigar trimmer 33falls into a chute 54 attached to the same, and from this chute`discharges into a stationary chute 55 connected to the suction system bya pipe 56.

`Waste from the wrapper die 30 is brushed by the operator into a box 51into the outlet of which terminates the pipe 31. ,l

The suction pipe 31 which is supported by the frame 35 of the machine isconnected to a pipe which in turn connects with main conduit 58 passingthrough the oor 59 of the operating room with a separator 60 connectedby a pipe 6I to a suction fan 62.

As mentioned above, while separate sources of suction may be used in theoperation of this device, it is proposed to use the single suction`source commonly found in cigar machine installations for operating thenovel scrap collector herein described. Accordingly, conduits orflexible couplings connect those parts of the machine which normallyrequire suction, such as the binder and wrapper cutting tables or diesand their respective transfers.

Conduits 61 and 68 (Fig. 2) lead to the binder and Wrapper dies,respectively, where they are connected to supply suction used intheoper. ation o the dies. Conduit 69 issuing from conduit 58 leads to asecond machine (not shown). Obviously, other conduits may issue fromconduit 58 for connection with other machines of the installation. Atcertain times in the operation of the machine, a minimum of suction isemployed, for instance, during thatperiod when a binder or wrapper isbeing transferred from the cutting die to rolling position, suction isturned on full in the collector system with the result that all scrapand dust accumulated lis removed. This is accomplished by means of `avalve 64 of known type placed in the conduit connected to the branchpipes of the said suction system. The valve is operated by a lever 65and rod 66, by means of a suitable cam mounted on the camshaft of themachine. By the action of the separator which may be of the socalledcyclone type, the scrap and dust collected by pipe 31 are segregatedfrom the air current produced by the fan and deposited into a receptacle63 placed below the separator outlet.

'Ihe rod 6B which controls the movement of valve 64 is actuated by a camlever 10 having a roller 1I in engagement with a cam 12 on the cam shaft13 of the cigar machine. The cutter 14 of the wrapper die 36 is mountedon an arm 15 swinging on a fulcrum 16 and connected by a rod 11 to a camlever 18 having a roller 15 1n the track of a drum cam 80 on shaft 13.The cutter 8I of binder die25 is similarly mounted on an arm 82 swingingon a fulcrum 83'and being connected by a rod 84 to a cam lever 85carrying a roller 66 engaging nwith a drum cam 81 on shaft 13.

What is claimed is:

l. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanisms for cutting cigarbinders and wrappers from tobacco leaves, of scrap tobacco and dustcollecting means, comprising a plurality of v suction conduits, eachprovided with openings \positioned adjacent said mechanisms, a conduitto which said conduits are connected, a device for creating suctionwithin said mechanisms. and means cooperating therewith for directinga'part 131. TOBACCO.

of said suction into said conduits for withdrawing said scrap and dustproduced thereby from said mechanisms.

2. In a cigar machine, having a plurality of devices for operating upontobacco comprising a filler feed, a charge measuring chamber, a chargecutter, a suction leaf cutter die from which cut leaves are transferredlby suction transfer mechanism to a rolling station, means for positivelyremoving scrap and dust tobacco from said devices comprising a pluralityof suction pipes having their openings positioned adjacent and beneathsaid devices, a suction conduit to which said pipes are connected, acontrol device positioned in said conduit and means for operating saidcontrol device in timed relation to said leaf cutter for putting saidpipes into communication with said conduit when a minimum of suction isrequired by said die, whereby said means becomes operative to removesaid scrap and dust.

3. In a cigar machine having a plurality of bunch forming devicesincluding a iilled feed, a charge measuring chamber, a charge cutter, aleaf cutter, a bunch rolling table, and a bunch crimping member, atobacco scrap and dust removing system comprising a series of suctionpipes arranged adjacent each device, a conduit into which said pipesdischarge said scrap and dust, a valve in said main conduit and meansfor periodically operating said valve to cut off the suction in saidsystem, and direct it to other parts of said machine.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination with a suction binder cutting dieand a suction wrapper cutting die adapted to cut binders and wrappers tobe transported to bunch rolling and wrapping positions, of a scrap anddust tobacco removing mechanism for removing scrap and dust produced atsaid dies, said mechanism including suction pipes having openingspositioned adjacent `said dies whereby scrap may be swept into said pipeopenings, a suction conduit to which said pipes are connected, a valvein said conduit, means for operating said valve to direct part of thesuction used in the operation of said dies to said pipes by putting saidpipes into cornmunication with said suction conduit, and means formaintaining a suction in said conduit at all times during operation ofthe machine. g

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with tobacco handling devicescomprising a iiller feed. a charge measuring chamber, a binder cuttingdie, a bunch rolling table, a bunch end crimper, a wrapper cutting dieand tuck end trimming means, of mechanism for removing scrap and dusttobacco produced on said machine during its operation from each of saiddevices, said mechanism comprising a plurality o! suction pipes havinginlets located adjacent each of said devices, a suction conduit intowhich said pipes discharge, and means for directing suction from saidbinder and wrapper cutting dies to said removal mechanism when thesuction in said dies is at a minimum.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with tobacco handling devices,including a filler feed, a charge measuring chamber, a bunch rollingtable, a bunch shaping member, a Wrapper cutting die, and tuck` endtrimming means, oi.' mechanism for removing scrap and dust tobaccoproduced on said machine during its operation from each of said devices,said mechanism comprising a plurality of suction pipes having openingslocated adjacent each of said devices, a member connecting a source ofsuction to each of said pipes, and means for directing suction from saidwrapper die into the pipes of said removal mechanism when the suction insaid die is at a minimum.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination with a suction leaf cutting diefor forming cigar leaf sections from leaves placed thereon, andassociated cigar forming devices cooperating therewith for performingsuccessive operations in forming a cigar, of scrap and dust materialco1- lecting mechanism for removing said material from said machinecomprising, a suction conduit for said die, a plurality of pipes havingwaste material receiving openings located adjacent a plurality of Saiddevices, means for creating suction in said conduit, and meanscooperating therewith for directing a part of said suction into saidpipes for removing said scrap and dust material from said devices.

8. In a cigar machine, the combination with suction binder and wrappercutting dies for forming binders and wrappers from leaves placedthereon, and a plurality of tobacco handling devices, including a.charge measuring chamber, a bunch length cutter, a rolling table, abunch softening member, a crimper and trimmers, of scrap tobacco anddust waste material removing mechanism comprising, suction pipesprovided with receiving openings located adjacent a. plurality of saiddevices, a conduit to which said pipes are connected, means for creatingsuction in said dies, and means for directing a part of said suctioninto said pipes for eecting the removal of scrap tobacco and wastematerials produced on said machine.

HENRY H. WHEELER.

